import socket # http://stackoverflow.com/a/14855726 def set_keepalive(sock, after_idle_sec=1, interval_sec=3, max_fails=5): """Set TCP keepalive on an open socket. It activates after 1 second (after_idle_sec) of idleness, then sends a keepalive ping once every 3 seconds (interval_sec), and closes the connection after 5 failed ping (max_fails), or 15 seconds """ sock.setsockopt(socket.SOL_SOCKET, socket.SO_KEEPALIVE, 1) sock.setsockopt(socket.IPPROTO_TCP, socket.TCP_KEEPIDLE, after_idle_sec) sock.setsockopt(socket.IPPROTO_TCP, socket.TCP_KEEPINTVL, interval_sec) sock.setsockopt(socket.IPPROTO_TCP, socket.TCP_KEEPCNT, max_fails)